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A power of attorney is a document that you sign to designate an individual or individuals to act on your behalf in the event that you become incapacitated. A durable power of attorney is one that survives even if you become incapacitated. A springing power of attorney is one that requires the documentation of a physician stating that you are incapacitated. An advance healthcare directive is a broad term that is used to describe various documents in place for someone to make health decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able to make these decisions for yourself. A […]

The Social Security Trust Fund (hereinafter, the “Trust Fund”), essentially, is the fund used to pay the benefits of retirees, their spouses, various dependents, and persons with permanent disabilities. The Trust Fund is composed of all the taxes earned on the income of American workers that have been collected and earmarked for this purpose, plus any interest gained on those tax revenues. The Trust Fund is sustainable as long as the tax revenues and interest are greater than the payouts. Whereas the Trust for your estate planning likely has one or two Trustees (in other words, those who administer the […]

Saturday, April 18, 2020 1:00 am ‘Largest classroom’ PBS offers assistance to from-home educators Bruce R. Haines Public television, which started life as “educational television” in the 1950s, is now providing emergency at-home learning services to assist students, families, teachers, administrators and school systems across Indiana now closed in response to COVID-19. The state’s eight public television stations, including PBS Fort Wayne, are partnering with the Indiana Department of Education to offer at-home learning experiences for students in grades K-12 that align with Indiana curriculum standards. This crisis response builds on years of public television’s success in education. PBS reaches […]

As I write this article, our world is in the midst of navigating through the implications of the coronavirus. Many clients are wondering if they will be able to get the legal assistance that they need. This event has caused me to think back to how technology has changed over my law career. When I began my law career in 1994, I didn’t have a computer on my desk. We had one computer in our library for computerized legal research, but needed permission to do a search for fear of the search cost. And I remember how excited my husband […]

Whether you are an entrepreneur eager to open your first business, or someone looking to expand upon their current business, the decisions surrounding the formation of a business can be tough. There are many different types of businesses, each with their own set of positives and negatives. It is important to choose the right type of business for your situation. Once you know the type of business you want to form–limited liability company, corporation, etc.–it must be set up according to Indiana law. Speaking with an Indiana business law attorney is an essential step in the formation of an Indiana […]

Making the decision to file for divorce can be a tough one. In order to make it through divorce proceedings with little stress and conflict, it can be helpful to know what you are getting yourself into. Divorce proceedings can be broken down into a series of steps. Of course, every situation is different, but the following steps are what usually occur in a divorce. Deciding to File a Petition The first step in obtaining a divorce is making the decision to divorce. It is often one of the most difficult decisions a spouse can make. It is important that […]

Studies report that more than half of Americans do not have essential estate documents prepared in the event they become too incapacitated to make decisions or pass away. For most people, thinking about the worst case scenario or death might seem depressing and something to avoid. However, it is up to us to provide a plan of what should happen. Because, if you don’t make a plan, the state will make a plan for you. The following are the four documents that everyone needs as a part of their estate plan.   Last Will and Testament  A will is probably the most well-known estate […]

At the outset of hiring a new employee, a common practice is to have the new employee sign a non-compete agreement. Generally, these types of agreements will prohibit an employee from working for another company in direct competition against their employer. This is to protect confidential information, trade secrets and goodwill from being used at competing businesses. While these types of agreements are commonplace at the outset of many types of employment, the enforceability of said agreements can sometimes be called into question. It is important for employers to know how Indiana courts have handled non-compete agreement enforceability in the […]

Another year has passed…..now what do you do with your old account receivables?  Beers Mallers Backs & Salin, LLP expanded its areas of practice to include collections recognizing a need for our business clients to have all their legal needs provided for in one place.   Beers Mallers Backs & Salin, LLP has a dedicated collection staff ready to help clients capitalize on old AR.  In working with business clients, I address several issues on a daily basis.  I have included some of the popular questions that are posed to our collection staff. How do I place a lien on […]